Toe spacing device



Nov. 20, 1951 s. FERRI 2,575,867

TOE SPACING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1949 IG'IIIIIIIIIA INVENTOR. SAUL. FER. RI

Patented Nov. 20, 1951 UNITED QS:TATE-S ()FiFil-CE 2.51 67 SPACING. DEVICE Application August 4, 1949, Serial No, 108,587

.fiho s ar frequently w rn that c own the oes out of shape and impress upon; them a .deformity that should not be there. One effect of such shoes is to crowd the big toe over against the toe next to. it, causing bunions','large joints,. .cal-. lenses; etc. to form on the. toes or the foot,

The object of this invention is. to provide a device that can be inserted in a ready-made shoe and will hold the big toe in proper position and awayfrom the toe next to it-th-at' has been crowded unnaturally-to oneside. 1

Another object of the invention is to shape this corrective device so that it fits in the toe of the shoe and supports the upper of the shoe from the insole of the shoe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a corrective device that will provide an arch or dome shaped covering for the four little toes and will leave the big toe free in the large roomy space provided therefor at the side of the arch.

These and other objects of the invention will be illustrated in the drawings, described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a horizontal section of the toe of the right hand shoe with the corrective device in position thereon or therein, the toes being shown in dotted lines and the foot and the shoe being shown partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the corrective device.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the front of the shoe, the section bein taken on the line 31:, 3a: of Figure 1, with the corrective device shown in position in the toe of the shoe.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the corrective device shown in Figure 3 from which the shoe itself is omitted.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the vertical wall of the corrective device, the section being taken on the line 5m, 52: of Figure 4, the corrective device being partly covered with some softer material.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the corrective device looking at it from the right of Figure 2, showing the little extensions on the lower edge thereof that are adapted to be inserted between the insole and the lower edge of the upper.

Figure '7 is a plan View of the blank from which the corrective device is formed.

It will be understood that the figures of the drawing show the corrective device adapted for use in the right hand shoe and the corrective device for the left hand shoe would be symmetri- 2 Claims. circa-ass call-y in reverse of this, and it will also -be -under stood that this corrective device while shown for use in a mans shoe can also be used in awomans or a childs shoe.

In the drawings, like reference cate like parts. a a

The-corrective device, which is disclosed herecan be made of a single piece of anythinmaterial; such as steel, copper, orplasticor even-of cardboard if stiif enough to hold its shape. The corrective. device for the right hand foot can be heat from a piece of flat material having: the shape of the pattern such as is shown in Figure 7. An intermediate part indicated by the reference numeral I is bent upwardly on the bending line 2, 2 leaving a flat lower deck 3, which rests directly on the insole of the shoe and on which the big toe can rest.

The upright portion 4 extends high enough at the back so that the upper edge of it will make contact with the under side of the upper of the shoe and slopes down and forwardly with a curved surface toward the tip of the toe of the shoe. The remaining part 5 of the blank is then bent over so as to conform to the under surface of the upper, the outer lower edge 6 of it conforming to the line on which the insole and the upper come together. This lower edg 6 is cut away at l, leaving two short extensions .8 and 9 that are adapted to be inserted between the insole and the upper.

If the corrective device is made out of a flat blank such as metal, etc., then the forward edge at the center ha to be slit so that portions thereof will partly overlap each other or these portions can be cut away with triangular cuts so as to make the overlapping parts ID, If! line up with each other.

It will be understood that the corrective device for the right hand shoe can be made in this way. The corrective device for the left hand shoe will be made symmetrically opposite to this, that is, reversed symmetrically from right to left so as to adapt it to the form of the toes on the left foot. The corrective device for the left hand shoe can be made from the same blank if the blank is turned over.

It will also be understood that if the corrective device is made of cast aluminum or of a plastic, it will not be formed from a flat blank, but will be cast directly in the irregular final shape which is adapted to be used in the toe of the shoe.

It will also be understood that the corrective device is made a little wider than the width of the space in the shoe in which it is intended to numerals-inch be fitted; so that it will spring a little when it is placed in the shoe and will therefore hold itself in position that much better and that portion of it that covers the four little toes, will that much better conform to' and support the under side of theupper of the shoe.

It will also be understood that it is desirable to cover more or less of this corrective device with some soft material or fabric and I have shown the upright portion 4 so covered with a soft fabric l2 that will prevent any irritation of the skin and will also make the upright 4 thicker so that the big toe will be separated correspondingly more from the next toe to it.

It will be understood that in Fig. 2, the part 5 can be cut back on the straight dotted line shown therein. a

It will also be understood that this device can be used so that the big toe will be placedunder for supporting the toe of the upper of the shoe and for separating the big toe from the other toes comprising a single plate formed from a relatively rigid sheet of material, said plate having a rigid upright intermediate central portion extending from the insole to the upper of the shoe and hav- 3 ing a rigid widedome portion extending from the upper edge of the upright portion over and down between the outer edge of the insole and the upper in one direction and having a rigid deck extending laterally from the lower edge of said upright intermediate portion and across the insole of the shoe in the other direction, the marginal edge of said deck being shaped to correspond substantially to the contour of an adjacent insole, and the dome portion having a configuration adapted to closely embrace the under surface of the box to'e ofa shoe, all of said portions being formed inorie piece, said plate comprising a single sheet of rigid material bent to provide said dome, intermediate and deck portions.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the upright intermediate portion is provided with a layer of soft material to increase the thickness thereof.

SAUL FERRI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file" of this patent: j UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Feb., 10, 1910 

